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Olivera Perkins, Economics Reporter

Author Archives: Olivera Perkins

Economics Reporter (she/her)
Olivera, an award-winning journalist, covered labor, employment and workforce issues for several years at The Plain Dealer. She broke the story in 2013 of a food drive held for Walmart workers who made too little to afford Thanksgiving dinner. Olivera has received state and national awards for her coverage, including those from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW). She was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. Olivera believes the sweet spot of high-impact journalism is combining strong storytelling with data analysis.

olivera@signalcleveland.org
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Playhouse Square during the Christmas holiday season.
Posted inNews

Union trying to organize the security guard firm Playhouse Square uses

Olivera Perkins, Economics Reporter by Olivera Perkins October 26, 2023October 26, 2023
Photo shows a pile of one dollar bills
Posted inEmployment

Typical workers in Ohio are making less than they did in 2019

Olivera Perkins, Economics Reporter by Olivera Perkins October 19, 2023October 23, 2023
The exterior of Karamu House
Posted inEconomy

Arts and culture generate more than $500 million for Cuyahoga County economy, new study shows

Olivera Perkins, Economics Reporter by Olivera Perkins October 12, 2023November 7, 2023
The FutureLAND conference, "celebrating the diversity in tech, arts, and culture," focuses on entrepreneurs of color. An iridescent floats near the center the graphic.
Posted inEconomy

FutureLAND and tech conferences drawing 10,000 to Cleveland

Olivera Perkins, Economics Reporter by Olivera Perkins October 6, 2023October 9, 2023
Ben Smith, owner of the the Splice Cream Truck. The truck, a recording studio on wheels, provided entertainment during the Sept. 17 Hip-hop Trivia Brunch at Zanzibar Soul Fusion on Shaker Square. The event, one of several held during the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival, was designed to support Black businesses.
Posted inWhy I wrote this

Reporting at the intersection of arts and business

Olivera Perkins, Economics Reporter by Olivera Perkins September 24, 2023September 28, 2023
Lily Jade Goodwin, also known as DJ Lily Jade, 9, often deejays for adults. Here she deejays at at the Sept. 17 Hip-hop Trivia Brunch at Zanzibar Soul Fusion restaurant on Shaker Square held in connection with the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival. The fourth grader from South Euclid is also a straight-A student.
Posted inNews

DJ Lily Jade, 9, often spins for adults

Olivera Perkins, Economics Reporter by Olivera Perkins September 24, 2023September 23, 2023
en Smith started his nonprofit Splice Cream Truck in 2015. He records people's stories, impromptu artistic performances, etc. Participants leave with a free recording and sometimes free ice cream. In this Sept. 17 photo, Smith has brought the truck to theHip-hop Trivia Brunch at Zanzibar Soul Fusion restaurant on Shaker Square in connection with the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival.
Posted inEconomy

The Splice Cream Truck, a recording studio on wheels, aims to connect Greater Clevelanders 

Olivera Perkins, Economics Reporter by Olivera Perkins September 22, 2023September 25, 2023
Attendees at the Hip-hop Trivia Brunch Sept. 17 at Zanzibar Soul Fusion, a Shaker Square restaurant. The attendees fill their plates at a buffet.
Posted inEconomy

Black film festival shows its support for Black businesses

Olivera Perkins, Economics Reporter by Olivera Perkins September 22, 2023September 22, 2023
The new flat headstone marker at Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland for John Patterson Green, considered by many to be the Father of Labor Day. The Woodland Cemetery Foundation had the headstone installed as part of new memorial garden dedicated to Green.
Posted inEmployment

Father of Labor Day was Black lawmaker from Cleveland

Olivera Perkins, Economics Reporter by Olivera Perkins September 1, 2023September 1, 2023
Students are in a circle reading at Good Beginnings, a child care center in Maple Heights.
Posted inEmployment

Staffing shortage has child care centers turning away families

Olivera Perkins, Economics Reporter by Olivera Perkins August 28, 2023August 31, 2023

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Latest News

Debriefer madness: More Q&A’s on recreational marijuana in Ohio

Debriefer madness: More Q&A’s on recreational marijuana in Ohio

by Helen Maynard and Frank W. Lewis December 8, 2023December 7, 2023
Cuyahoga County jail shows people the door, offers little else to aid reentry

Cuyahoga County jail shows people the door, offers little else to aid reentry

by Mark Puente and The Marshall Project December 7, 2023December 7, 2023
Cleveland to end marijuana testing for some city job applicants

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by Nick Castele December 7, 2023
Ohio Senate passes revised marijuana bill on eve of legalization

Ohio Senate passes revised marijuana bill on eve of legalization

by wkyc studios December 7, 2023December 7, 2023

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A new bespoke boat for Cleveland police

A new bespoke boat for Cleveland police

by Dakotah Kennedy and Cleveland Documenters November 30, 2023December 5, 2023
Public commenters call for a ceasefire resolution; food processing plant moves forward in Central

Public commenters call for a ceasefire resolution; food processing plant moves forward in Central

by Anastazia Vanisko and Cleveland Documenters November 30, 2023November 30, 2023
Cleveland council members prepare for two city wards to be cut

Cleveland council members prepare for two city wards to be cut

by Anastazia Vanisko and Cleveland Documenters November 28, 2023November 28, 2023

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